Čunek motivates other mayors

It pays politically to travel the path of the current head of the Christian Democrats, Jiří Čunek. A radical approach to “problematic” communities of Roma and people who “poorly adapt” is now benefiting the career of South Moravian mayors as well.

“Safety on the streets of Břeclav and the issue of coexistence with the Roma – these matters are closely connected,” emphasized the Mayor of Břeclav, Dymo Piškula, prior to the municipal elections. “The most important thing is to begin talking about the problem of coexistence with the Roma and acknowledge that the situation continues to deteriorate. Břeclav has taken many steps to improve the situation,” Piškula told the daily Mladá fronta DNES. During her election campaign, however, Senate candidate Ludmila Živná (KSČM) denounced the city of Břeclav for creating a ghetto. She even called the fourth-class flats occupied by “rent dodgers” the concentration camp of a new era.

The town hall for the Brno-sever quarter of Brno, where the area called the “Brno Bronx” around Cejl and Francouzská streets is located, has also chosen a drastic solution. Milan Venclík wants to relocate Romani families to “various places around Brno” on the edge of town. Sociologists and activists warn that similar solutions will not necessarily result in satisfactory results.